Asante Africa Foundation Hosts Maasai in Pleasanton

Pleasanton, CA - On October 11th, a “Meet the Maasai” family-oriented interactive event will be held at the Masonic Center on Hopyard Road.

Perhaps she’s raised chump change compared to Oprah, but Livermore resident Erna Grasz is making her mark by helping to shape the future of an African village one child at a time. In a few weeks, Grasz and her organization, which includes Pleasanton board member, will build a cultural bridge between the Maasai and the east bay, as many of Asante Africa’s projects benefit the Maasai community.

Erna founded Asante Africa Foundation in the fall of 2006 after returning from a safari in Tanzania. There, in the soaring heat, she met a woman teaching class under a tree to girls who couldn’t afford to attend school – and Erna walked away determined to help in any way she could. Today, Asante Africa Foundation has funded more than $150,000 towards projects dedicated to building quality education in Tanzania and Kenya.

On October 11th, a “Meet the Maasai” family-oriented interactive event will be held at the Masonic Center on Hopyard Road. Maasai tribal warrior and elder advisor Sabore Ole Oyie and tribeswoman Hellen Nkuraiya, former school principal and current teacher, will be featured with Maasai and Swahili singing, dancing, vertical leaping, learning to apply traditional red ocher war paint, vocalizations of animal calls, bow and arrow techniques, and native crafts and jewelry. This event is open to the public. Several bay area schools are also sponsoring Maasai assemblies during the Kenyans visit as a cultural exchange which focuses on the value of education in our community and across the ocean.

To learn more about Asante Africa, please visit www.asanteafrica.org. If you would be interested in meeting Erna and our Maasai visitors, please contact me at 925-998-3869 or k.yolton@comcast.net.

Best,

Karen Yolton

Asante is the Swahili word for thank you.

Celebrating Danville, 150 Years of History

The "City of Danville" is celebrating its 150 years of History.
Exhibit and reception in the ADAS Pioneer Art Gallery & Studios on October 4th from 5 to 8 PM and run until November 16th.
Address: 524 Hartz Ave in Danville CA

Danville, often referred to as the "Heart of San Ramon Valley," has its 150 year journey filled with change and growth. Turning from miners into farmers, the land was transformed to raising cattle and sheep and growing wheat, barley and onions. Later the farms produced hay, a wide variety of fruit crops (apples, plums, and pears), walnuts and almonds. Churches, schools, farmers unions and fraternal lodges began as the community evolved.

To this day, a remarkable number of early Danville buildings remain such as the houses belonging to the Boone, Osborn, Young, Spilker, Podva, Vecki, Root, Elliott and Hartz families. The Danville Hotel and original 1874 Grange Hall exists as well. Many of the early pioneer names appear on the streets and schools, including Baldwin, Harlan, Wood, Love, Hemme, Boone, Bettencourt and Meese.

This town's unique identity has been maintained by retaining its history. To commemorate the celebration of 150 years of Danville, Pioneer Art Gallery artists are showing their respect and appreciation of the town by creating artworks that depict the historic landmarks around town. This exhibit will open with a reception in the ADAS Pioneer Art Gallery & Studios on October 4th from 5 to 8 PM and run until November 16th. Over 22 local artists have signed up to make works of art that make an historic building or location of Danville the central theme of the work. These buildings will be depicted in all manner of styles and points of view.

The Danville Oak Tree, symbol of the community, is the featured image on the ADAS Pioneer Art Gallery's T-shirt by noted artist Leroy Parker. This T-shirt is at the center of the Gallery promotional efforts for show.

Danville Oak Tree

Mark your calendar to visit and support the gallery and to encourage the artists striving to showcase the History of Danville to bring out the memories of the past and to celebrate the specialty of the town retaining its sheen and luster even to this day. This town is special, and the artworks demonstrate how special it is.

October 4th from 5 to 8 PM and run until November 16th.
ADAS - Pioneer Art Gallery & Studios
524 Hartz Avenue, Danville, CA 94526

Tackling Retirement Planning

Football Season is Upon Us

It wasn't all that long ago when New York Giants' quarterback Eli Manning led his team to victory against the New England Patriots 17-14 and was named Superbowl MVP. The secret to a successful football season? A savvy quarterback and great play calling.

The same is true for a successful retirement – except that you are the quarterback and you call the plays — for example, when to retire and how much to save.

Even Eli’s older brother, Super Bowl winning quarterback Peyton Manning can tell you that the most talented quarterback can’t rack up a Super Bowl winning performance without excellent coaching and a playbook. Social Security understands that the same is true when it comes to retirement planning. While you will have to call your own financial plays, we can help you decide what ‘play options’ might be successful in any given situation.

For example, how much can you expect to get from Social Security? How much more could you get if you worked a year longer? Two years? What about your spouse, if you are married? And how much should you be saving in addition to your expected Social Security benefits?

All of these questions can be answered simply by visiting our Social Security website at www.socialsecurity.gov. It’s like training camp for financial planning. There you will find several financial planning tools, including our new, easy-to-use Retirement Estimator. You can use it to get quick retirement estimates based upon your own earnings record.

All you have to do is provide some very basic information about yourself – your name, Social Security number, date and place of birth, your mother’s maiden name, and your last year’s earnings. The Retirement Estimator will then create Social Security benefit estimates instantly.

The Estimator shows what you would receive in Social Security benefits if you retired at age 62, what you would receive at your full retirement age and what you would receive if you worked until age 70.

Interested in other play options, such as what would happen if you made more money in the future? Or if you want to stop work at a different age than the three we show you? You can try out alternate game plans using the screens on the Retirement Estimator page, in case you change your mind about your initial retirement plans.

Remember what one of football's most accomplished and respected coaches, Vince Lombardi, said: “There's only one way to succeed in anything, and that is to give it everything.” So give everything you have to creating a playbook for your retirement. And the best place to begin your game plan for a successful retirement is at www.socialsecurity.gov.

Linda Zamfino
Bay Area Public Affairs Specialist
Social Security Administration
1301 Clay Street, Ste 410N
Oakland, California 94612
(510) 637-4020

Pleasanton, CA Street Party

Pleasanton, CA Street Party
Steven Ashley Wilson, Freelance Photographer (925) 556-1570

Pleasanton celebrated its last “1st Wednesday Street Party” of the year. It was a perfect, warm, summer evening for the five-month run of the celebration to end. Men, women, boys, girls, babies in strollers, and an occasional canine, enjoyed strolling down the center of Main Street, which was blocked off from traffic. Interesting booths from various vendors ran down the center of the street with many unique shops, businesses, and restaurants open along the perimeter of the historic downtown district. The local band, Magic Moments, performed their “50’s Legends Review” which got many people up out of their seats and dancing. those seeking more mellow tunes were entertained by members of the local, all-woman Harmony Fusion Chorus. Food ranged from snow cones to kettle corn to Teriyaki Chicken. Beer, from major brands and micro-brews were on tap as well as wines from the Livermore Valley.

Be sure to mark May 6th on your 2009 calendar for the festivities to start up again next year. It’s a great way to enjoy a warm, summer evening.

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